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München / Munich to Zagreb by train
How to travel from München/Munich to Zagreb by train
When travelling by train from München/Munich to Zagreb you can travel during the day on of Europe's most stunning railway journeys, or if the timings don't suit there's also an overnight train available (for now).
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Routes
Option 1: travelling on this beautiful journey by day
Journey Summary
8hr 35min (approx)*
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Zagreb
Train also calls at: Jesenice, Lesce-Bled (for Lake Bled), Ljubljana, Zidani Most, Dobova
This train is usually scheduled to depart from Munchen Hbf at 12:17
This train will also call at Munchen Ost AFTER departure from Munchen Hbf.
If the starting point of journey is in central Munich/München (around Marienplatz), it will be a quicker trip if you take a S-Bahn local train and make the connection at München Ost.
1 x train per day
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
Book 1st class ticket journey tickets on DB Bahn and your seat reservation is included, but they're optional when booking 2nd class tickets.
Rail Pass Users:
The reservation rules are different when using a rail pass to travel to Croatia by these trains.
Rail pass users must make reservations prior to boarding, irrespective if you will be using a 1st or 2nd class pass.
Travelling from Munchen Ost station:
When making a booking online on DB Bahn, it uses ‘Munich (München)’ as a default for looking up journeys from the city in the ‘From’ box.
But it is possible to select München Ost as the ‘From’ station (you need to use the German spelling with the character (the umlaut) over the ‘u’).
You won’t save any money by booking from München Ost, but the departure time of your train from Munchen Ost will be on your ticket.
Booking agents, when looking up Munchen to Zagreb journeys, will see that the fastest journey from Munchen is from Munchen Ost - so can assume that this is where you want to join the train.
If you're using an agent confirm whether your ticket has been booked from Munchen Hbf or Munchen Ost - particularly if you DO want to join the train at Munchen Hbf.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB Bahn | from €45 approx |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The train will reverse direction at Villach.
This can be a journey where travelling 1st class can pay off as you'll have more freedom to move from one side of the train to the other, to make the most of the trip.
Boarding The Train:
The coaches to heading to Zagreb will be joined to coaches heading to Klagenfurt, the train separates at Villach.
So when boarding check that you will be in the part of the train heading to Zagreb.
Don't be overly concerned about this, the conductor will verify that you're sat in the correct part of the train when they inspect your ticket.
Once the train has departed from Salzburg, this is a contender for Europe's most stunning train journey, though you will need to be travelling between May and October* to see it at its best.
The train departs from Ljubljana at around 18:30, but between there and Dobova, it threads through the spectacular Sava River gorge; and this section of route comprises most of the final two hours of the journey to Zagreb.
So that you can see the views for more of the year, an alternative is to set off from Munchen at 08:17 on a train heading to Klagenfurt and connect in Villach for a train on to Zagreb which will arrive there at 17:10.
If the timings suit we also recommend not taking the alternative overnight train; try to plan an itinerary so that you can experience the incredible daytime journey.
The railway line this train travels over between Schwarzach St Veit and Spittal is known as the Tauern Railway / Tauernbahn.
After Bad Hofgastein the train will ascend up the valley to Bad Gastein with the best of the views here are ON THE LEFT
On departure from Bad Gastein, the best of the views here are back over to the right; look out for the waterfalls.
Th next highlight of the journey comes when the train exits the Tauern Railway Tunnel and begins to descend to Spittal.
For around 25 mins there are stunning birds-eye views across the valley; from the right.
Option 2: taking an overnight train
Journey Summary
9hr 1min
Nightly
Travel Information
This train, which is named the 'Lisinki' is scheduled to depart from Munchen Ost and not from the city's main station at 23:54 and it schedule to arrive in Zagreb Glavni Kolod. station at 08:36.
It now commences its journey in Stuttgart Hbf at 20:59 and also calls in Ulm and Augsburg.
If you wake early there are some wonderful views of The Sava River valley gorge, as the train heads towards Croatia.
Though as the landscape this train will be travelling through is spectacular for pretty much the entire journey, we highly recommend travelling this route on the daytime train.
1 x train per night
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: 3 months ahead of the travel date
This train is provided by Croatian Railways (HZ) and is named 'Lizinski'.
It comprises:
- Compartment Seats
- Couchettes; 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
Click the train button above for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:
Using rail passes:
Rail pass users must reserve before boarding this train.
If you want to reserve seats, berths in couchettes or beds in the sleeping cabins before you arrive in Germany, the best option is to pay a booking fee and use the Eurail or InterRail reservation services.
Or you can avoid the booking fees by arranging the reservations when you arrive in Germany, by purchasing them at a Reisezentrum travel desk, which you will find in any hauptbahnhof.
Though it's best to do this at the first hauptbahnhof (city centre station) that you will arrive at, the later you leave booking your accommodation, the more likely it is that your preferences will be sold out.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| DB | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
At Munchen Hbf station, on the departure screens, you may only see a train leaving at 23:34 that's heading to Budapest if you do, that info will also be for this train.
The coaches heading to Zagreb are joined to the train heading to Budapest on departure from Munchen Hbf.
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